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Narayanan T. Recent advances in synchrotron scattering methods for probing the structure and dynamics of colloids. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 325:103114. [PMID: 38452431 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Recent progress in synchrotron based X-ray scattering methods applied to colloid science is reviewed. An important figure of merit of these techniques is that they enable in situ investigations of colloidal systems under the desired thermophysical and rheological conditions. An ensemble averaged simultaneous structural and dynamical information can be derived albeit in reciprocal space. Significant improvements in X-ray source brilliance and advances in detector technology have overcome some of the limitations in the past. Notably coherent X-ray scattering techniques have become more competitive and they provide complementary information to laboratory based real space methods. For a system with sufficient scattering contrast, size ranges from nm to several μm and time scales down to μs are now amenable to X-ray scattering investigations. A wide variety of sample environments can be combined with scattering experiments further enriching the science that could be pursued by means of advanced X-ray scattering instruments. Some of these recent progresses are illustrated via representative examples. To derive quantitative information from the scattering data, rigorous data analysis or modeling is required. Development of powerful computational tools including the use of artificial intelligence have become the emerging trend.
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Kurdadze T, Lamadie F, Nehme KA, Teychené S, Biscans B, Rodriguez-Ruiz I. On-Chip Photonic Detection Techniques for Non-Invasive In Situ Characterizations at the Microfluidic Scale. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:1529. [PMID: 38475065 DOI: 10.3390/s24051529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidics has emerged as a robust technology for diverse applications, ranging from bio-medical diagnostics to chemical analysis. Among the different characterization techniques that can be used to analyze samples at the microfluidic scale, the coupling of photonic detection techniques and on-chip configurations is particularly advantageous due to its non-invasive nature, which permits sensitive, real-time, high throughput, and rapid analyses, taking advantage of the microfluidic special environments and reduced sample volumes. Putting a special emphasis on integrated detection schemes, this review article explores the most relevant advances in the on-chip implementation of UV-vis, near-infrared, terahertz, and X-ray-based techniques for different characterizations, ranging from punctual spectroscopic or scattering-based measurements to different types of mapping/imaging. The principles of the techniques and their interest are discussed through their application to different systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Kurdadze
- CEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Ceze, Marcoule, France
| | - Fabrice Lamadie
- CEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Ceze, Marcoule, France
| | - Karen A Nehme
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, UMR 5503, 4 Allée Emile Monso, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Sébastien Teychené
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, UMR 5503, 4 Allée Emile Monso, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Béatrice Biscans
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, UMR 5503, 4 Allée Emile Monso, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Isaac Rodriguez-Ruiz
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, UMR 5503, 4 Allée Emile Monso, 31432 Toulouse, France
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Vasina M, Kovar D, Damborsky J, Ding Y, Yang T, deMello A, Mazurenko S, Stavrakis S, Prokop Z. In-depth analysis of biocatalysts by microfluidics: An emerging source of data for machine learning. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108171. [PMID: 37150331 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the vastly increasing demand for novel biotechnological products is supported by the continuous development of biocatalytic applications which provide sustainable green alternatives to chemical processes. The success of a biocatalytic application is critically dependent on how quickly we can identify and characterize enzyme variants fitting the conditions of industrial processes. While miniaturization and parallelization have dramatically increased the throughput of next-generation sequencing systems, the subsequent characterization of the obtained candidates is still a limiting process in identifying the desired biocatalysts. Only a few commercial microfluidic systems for enzyme analysis are currently available, and the transformation of numerous published prototypes into commercial platforms is still to be streamlined. This review presents the state-of-the-art, recent trends, and perspectives in applying microfluidic tools in the functional and structural analysis of biocatalysts. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of available technologies, their reproducibility and robustness, and readiness for routine laboratory use. We also highlight the unexplored potential of microfluidics to leverage the power of machine learning for biocatalyst development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Vasina
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Kovar
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Damborsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yun Ding
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tianjin Yang
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stanislav Mazurenko
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Zbynek Prokop
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Fandrich P, Esteban Vázquez J, Haverkamp R, Hellweg T. Growth of Smart Microgels in a Flow Reactor Scrutinized by In-Line SAXS. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:1084-1092. [PMID: 36630721 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this work, a continuous flow setup for in situ investigation of microgel growth with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is established. Poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) (PNNPAM) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels are synthesized in H2O at different residence times inside a continuous flow reactor. The microgels are investigated by in situ SAXS and ex situ photon correlation spectroscopy. The size of the microgels was found to be reproducible in independent experiments with run times of up to 7 h. Already the scattering curves of the microgels with a time of residence of 15 min show a well-defined form factor. Further analysis of the scattering profiles confirms the spherical shape of the microgels. At a residence time of 2 min, the scattering intensity is significantly lower corresponding to a smaller particle size. The experimental conditions remain constant over time, which is crucial for long-time experiments. The PNNPAM system is found to be more suitable for the flow reactor experiment with in-line SAXS as it shows less polymer deposition in the tubing and forms particles with lower polydispersity. The presented reactor is characterized by a compact design and offers a plug-and-play setup close to the sample environment. This work paves the way for investigations of microgel growth at e.g. synchrotron X-ray beamlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Fandrich
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Biophysical Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jorge Esteban Vázquez
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Biophysical Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615Bielefeld, Germany
| | - René Haverkamp
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Biophysical Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Hellweg
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Biophysical Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615Bielefeld, Germany
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Microfluidic Nanomaterial Synthesis and In Situ SAXS, WAXS, or SANS Characterization: Manipulation of Size Characteristics and Online Elucidation of Dynamic Structural Transitions. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144602. [PMID: 35889473 PMCID: PMC9323596 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
With the ability to cross biological barriers, encapsulate and efficiently deliver drugs and nucleic acid therapeutics, and protect the loaded cargos from degradation, different soft polymer and lipid nanoparticles (including liposomes, cubosomes, and hexosomes) have received considerable interest in the last three decades as versatile platforms for drug delivery applications and for the design of vaccines. Hard nanocrystals (including gold nanoparticles and quantum dots) are also attractive for use in various biomedical applications. Here, microfluidics provides unique opportunities for the continuous synthesis of these hard and soft nanomaterials with controllable shapes and sizes, and their in situ characterization through manipulation of the flow conditions and coupling to synchrotron small-angle X-ray (SAXS), wide-angle scattering (WAXS), or neutron (SANS) scattering techniques, respectively. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic devices are attractive not only for the continuous production of monodispersed nanomaterials, but also for improving our understanding of the involved nucleation and growth mechanisms during the formation of hard nanocrystals under confined geometry conditions. They allow further gaining insight into the involved dynamic structural transitions, mechanisms, and kinetics during the generation of self-assembled nanostructures (including drug nanocarriers) at different reaction times (ranging from fractions of seconds to minutes). This review provides an overview of recently developed 2D and 3D microfluidic platforms for the continuous production of nanomaterials, and their simultaneous use in in situ characterization investigations through coupling to nanostructural characterization techniques (e.g., SAXS, WAXS, and SANS).
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A Versatile Nanocarrier—Cubosomes, Characterization, and Applications. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12132224. [PMID: 35808060 PMCID: PMC9268278 DOI: 10.3390/nano12132224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The impact of nanotechnology on the exponential growth of several research areas, particularly nanomedicine, is undeniable. The ability to deliver active molecules to the desired site could significantly improve the efficiency of medical treatments. One of the nanocarriers developed which has drawn researchers’ attention are cubosomes, which are nanosized dispersions of lipid bicontinuous cubic phases in water, consisting of a lipidic interior and aqueous domains folded in a cubic lattice. They stand out due to their ability to incorporate hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic compounds, their tortuous internal configuration that provides a sustained release, and the capacity to protect and safely deliver molecules. Several approaches can be taken to prepare this structure, as well as different lipids like monoolein or phytantriol. This review paper describes the different methods to prepare nanocarriers. As it is known, the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers are very important, as they influence their pharmacokinetics and their ability to incorporate and deliver active molecules. Therefore, an extensive characterization is essential to obtain the desired effect. As a result, we have extensively described the most common techniques to characterize cubosomes, particularly nanocarriers. The exceptional properties of the cubosomes make them suitable to be used in several applications in the biomedical field, from cancer therapeutics to imaging, which will be described. Taking in consideration the outstanding properties of cubosomes, their application in several research fields is envisaged.
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7
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A Review of Microfluidic Devices for Rheological Characterisation. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13020167. [PMID: 35208292 PMCID: PMC8877273 DOI: 10.3390/mi13020167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The rheological characterisation of liquids finds application in several fields ranging from industrial production to the medical practice. Conventional rheometers are the gold standard for the rheological characterisation; however, they are affected by several limitations, including high costs, large volumes required and difficult integration to other systems. By contrast, microfluidic devices emerged as inexpensive platforms, requiring a little sample to operate and fashioning a very easy integration into other systems. Such advantages have prompted the development of microfluidic devices to measure rheological properties such as viscosity and longest relaxation time, using a finger-prick of volumes. This review highlights some of the microfluidic platforms introduced so far, describing their advantages and limitations, while also offering some prospective for future works.
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Sagar A, Bernadó P. Disentangling polydisperse biomolecular systems by Chemometrics decomposition of SAS data. Methods Enzymol 2022; 677:531-555. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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9
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Zhang F, Richter G, Bourgeois B, Spreitzer E, Moser A, Keilbach A, Kotnik P, Madl T. A General Small-Angle X-ray Scattering-Based Screening Protocol for Studying Physical Stability of Protein Formulations. Pharmaceutics 2021; 14:69. [PMID: 35056965 PMCID: PMC8778066 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental step in developing a protein drug is the selection of a stable storage formulation that ensures efficacy of the drug and inhibits physiochemical degradation or aggregation. Here, we designed and evaluated a general workflow for screening of protein formulations based on small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Our SAXS pipeline combines automated sample handling, temperature control, and fast data analysis and provides protein particle interaction information. SAXS, together with different methods including turbidity analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and SDS-PAGE measurements, were used to obtain different parameters to provide high throughput screenings. Using a set of model proteins and biopharmaceuticals, we show that SAXS is complementary to dynamic light scattering (DLS), which is widely used in biopharmaceutical research and industry. We found that, compared to DLS, SAXS can provide a more sensitive measure for protein particle interactions, such as protein aggregation and repulsion. Moreover, we show that SAXS is compatible with a broader range of buffers, excipients, and protein concentrations and that in situ SAXS provides a sensitive measure for long-term protein stability. This workflow can enable future high-throughput analysis of proteins and biopharmaceuticals and can be integrated with well-established complementary physicochemical analysis pipelines in (biopharmaceutical) research and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangrong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China;
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (G.R.); (B.B.); (E.S.)
| | - Gesa Richter
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (G.R.); (B.B.); (E.S.)
| | - Benjamin Bourgeois
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (G.R.); (B.B.); (E.S.)
| | - Emil Spreitzer
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (G.R.); (B.B.); (E.S.)
| | - Armin Moser
- Anton Paar GmbH, 8054 Graz, Austria; (A.M.); (A.K.); (P.K.)
| | | | - Petra Kotnik
- Anton Paar GmbH, 8054 Graz, Austria; (A.M.); (A.K.); (P.K.)
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (G.R.); (B.B.); (E.S.)
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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Ilhan-Ayisigi E, Ghazal A, Sartori B, Dimaki M, Svendsen WE, Yesil-Celiktas O, Yaghmur A. Continuous Microfluidic Production of Citrem-Phosphatidylcholine Nano-Self-Assemblies for Thymoquinone Delivery. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1510. [PMID: 34200457 PMCID: PMC8229635 DOI: 10.3390/nano11061510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Lamellar and non-lamellar liquid crystalline nanodispersions, including liposomes, cubosomes, and hexosomes are attractive platforms for drug delivery, bio-imaging, and related pharmaceutical applications. As compared to liposomes, there is a modest number of reports on the continuous production of cubosomes and hexosomes. Using a binary lipid mixture of citrem and soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), we describe the continuous production of nanocarriers for delivering thymoquinone (TQ, a substance with various therapeutic potentials) by employing a commercial microfluidic hydrodynamic flow-focusing chip. In this study, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were employed to characterize TQ-free and TQ-loaded citrem/SPC nanodispersions. Microfluidic synthesis led to formation of TQ-free and TQ-loaded nanoparticles with mean sizes around 115 and 124 nm, and NTA findings indicated comparable nanoparticle size distributions in these nanodispersions. Despite the attractiveness of the microfluidic chip for continuous production of citrem/SPC nano-self-assemblies, it was not efficient as comparable mean nanoparticle sizes were obtained on employing a batch (discontinuous) method based on low-energy emulsification method. SAXS results indicated the formation of a biphasic feature of swollen lamellar (Lα) phase in coexistence with an inverse bicontinuous cubic Pn3m phase in all continuously produced TQ-free and TQ-loaded nanodispersions. Further, a set of SAXS experiments were conducted on samples prepared using the batch method for gaining further insight into the effects of ethanol and TQ concentration on the structural features of citrem/SPC nano-self-assemblies. We discuss these effects and comment on the need to introduce efficient microfluidic platforms for producing nanocarriers for delivering TQ and other therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Ilhan-Ayisigi
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, 35100 Bornova-Izmir, Turkey; (E.I.-A.); (O.Y.-C.)
- Genetic and Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, 40100 Kirsehir, Turkey
| | - Aghiad Ghazal
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk Park, 2760 Måløv, Denmark
| | - Barbara Sartori
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9/4, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Maria Dimaki
- DTU Bioengineering—Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads Bldg. 221, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (M.D.); (W.E.S.)
| | - Winnie Edith Svendsen
- DTU Bioengineering—Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads Bldg. 221, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (M.D.); (W.E.S.)
| | - Ozlem Yesil-Celiktas
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, 35100 Bornova-Izmir, Turkey; (E.I.-A.); (O.Y.-C.)
| | - Anan Yaghmur
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
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Sagar A, Herranz-Trillo F, Langkilde AE, Vestergaard B, Bernadó P. Structure and thermodynamics of transient protein-protein complexes by chemometric decomposition of SAXS datasets. Structure 2021; 29:1074-1090.e4. [PMID: 33862013 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Transient biomolecular interactions play crucial roles in many cellular signaling and regulation processes. However, deciphering the structure of these assemblies is challenging owing to the difficulties in isolating complexes from the individual partners. The additive nature of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data allows for probing the species present in these mixtures, but decomposition into structural and thermodynamic information is difficult. We present a chemometric approach enabling the decomposition of titration SAXS data into species-specific information. Using extensive synthetic SAXS data, we demonstrate that robust decomposition can be achieved for titrations with a maximum fraction of complex of 0.5 that can be extended to 0.3 when two orthogonal titrations are simultaneously analyzed. The effect of the structural features, titration points, relative concentrations, and noise are thoroughly analyzed. The validation of the strategy with experimental data highlights the power of the approach to provide unique insights into this family of biomolecular assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Sagar
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale (CBS), INSERM, CNRS and Université de Montpellier, 29, rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France.
| | - Fátima Herranz-Trillo
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annette Eva Langkilde
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bente Vestergaard
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pau Bernadó
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale (CBS), INSERM, CNRS and Université de Montpellier, 29, rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France.
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12
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Advances in microfluidic synthesis and coupling with synchrotron SAXS for continuous production and real-time structural characterization of nano-self-assemblies. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 201:111633. [PMID: 33639513 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic platforms have become highly attractive tools for synthesis of nanoparticles, including lipid nano-self-assemblies, owing to unique features and at least three important aspects inherent to miniaturized micro-devices. Firstly, the fluids flow under controlled conditions in the microchannels, providing well-defined flow profiles and shorter diffusion lengths that play important roles in enhancing the continuous production of lipid and polymer nanoparticles with relatively narrow size distributions. Secondly, various geometries adapted to microfluidic device designs can be utilized for enhancing the colloidal stability of nanoparticles and improving their drug loading. Thirdly, microfluidic devices are usually compatible with in situ characterization methods for real-time monitoring of processes occurring inside the microchannels. This is unlike conventional nanoparticle synthesis methods, where a final solution or withdrawn aliquots are separately analysed. These features inherent to microfluidic devices provide a tool-set allowing not only precise nanoparticle size control, but also real-time analyses for process optimization. In this review, we focus on recent advances and developments in the use of microfluidic devices for synthesis of lipid nanoparticles. We present different designs based on hydrodynamic flow focusing, droplet-based methods and controlled microvortices, and discuss integration of microfluidic platforms with synchrotron small-angle X ray scattering (SAXS) for in situ structural characterization of lipid nano-self-assemblies under continuous flow conditions, along with major challenges and future directions in this research area.
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13
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Lange T, Charton S, Bizien T, Testard F, Malloggi F. OSTE+ for in situ SAXS analysis with droplet microfluidic devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:2990-3000. [PMID: 32696785 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00454e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, microfluidic-based sample preparation techniques have emerged as a powerful tool for measurements at large scale X-ray facilities. Most often the microfluidic device was a form of hybrid system, i.e. an assembly of different materials, because a simple, versatile and inexpensive microfabrication method, on the one hand, and X-ray compatibility, on the other hand, cannot generally be achieved by the same material. The arrival of a new polymer family based on off-stoichiometric thiol-ene-epoxy (OSTE+) has recently redistributed the cards. In this context, we studied the relevance and the compatibility of OSTE+ for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. The material was characterized regarding its X-ray properties (transmission coefficient, attenuation coefficient, scattering pattern and polymer aging under X-ray light) and their comparison with those of the usual polymers used in microfluidics and/or for synchrotron radiation experiments. We show that OSTE+ has a better SAXS signal than polyimide, the polymer of reference in the SAXS community. Then a detailed protocol to manufacture a suitably thin full OSTE+ chip (total thickness <500 μm) is described and the potency of full OSTE+ devices for in situ SAXS studies is highlighted in two case-studies: the characterization of gold nanoparticles and the precipitation of cerium oxalate particles, both in moving droplets. Additionally, a method to analyze the scattering signals from droplet and carrier phase in a segmented flow is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Lange
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, NIMBE, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
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14
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Narayanan T, Dattani R, Möller J, Kwaśniewski P. A microvolume shear cell for combined rheology and x-ray scattering experiments. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2020; 91:085102. [PMID: 32872916 DOI: 10.1063/5.0012905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
An experimental setup is presented for x-ray scattering studies of soft matter under shear flow that employs a low-background coaxial capillary cell coupled to a high-resolution commercial rheometer. The rotor of the Searle type cell is attached to the rheometer shaft, which allows the application of either steady or oscillatory shear of controlled stress or rate on the sample confined in the annular space between the stator and the rotor. The shearing device facilitates ultrasmall-angle x-ray scattering and ultrasmall-angle x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy measurements with relatively low scattering backgrounds. This enables the elucidation of weak structural features otherwise submerged in the background and probes the underlying dynamics. The performance of the setup is demonstrated by means of a variety of colloidal systems subjected to different rheological protocols. Examples include shear deformation of a short-range attractive colloidal gel, dynamics of dilute colloids in shear flow, distortion of the structure factor of a dense repulsive colloidal suspension, shear induced ordering of colloidal crystals, and alignment of multilamellar microtubes formed by a surfactant-polysaccharide mixture. Finally, the new possibilities offered by this setup for investigating soft matter subjected to shear flow by x-ray scattering are discussed.
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Maurice A, Theisen J, Gabriel JCP. Microfluidic lab-on-chip advances for liquid–liquid extraction process studies. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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16
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Narayanan T, Konovalov O. Synchrotron Scattering Methods for Nanomaterials and Soft Matter Research. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 13:E752. [PMID: 32041363 PMCID: PMC7040635 DOI: 10.3390/ma13030752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This article aims to provide an overview of broad range of applications of synchrotron scattering methods in the investigation of nanoscale materials. These scattering techniques allow the elucidation of the structure and dynamics of nanomaterials from sub-nm to micron size scales and down to sub-millisecond time ranges both in bulk and at interfaces. A major advantage of scattering methods is that they provide the ensemble averaged information under in situ and operando conditions. As a result, they are complementary to various imaging techniques which reveal more local information. Scattering methods are particularly suitable for probing buried structures that are difficult to image. Although, many qualitative features can be directly extracted from scattering data, derivation of detailed structural and dynamical information requires quantitative modeling. The fourth-generation synchrotron sources open new possibilities for investigating these complex systems by exploiting the enhanced brightness and coherence properties of X-rays.
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17
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Vakili M, Merkens S, Gao Y, Gwozdz PV, Vasireddi R, Sharpnack L, Meyer A, Blick RH, Trebbin M. 3D Micromachined Polyimide Mixing Devices for in Situ X-ray Imaging of Solution-Based Block Copolymer Phase Transitions. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:10435-10445. [PMID: 31318572 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b00728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Advances in modern interface- and material sciences often rely on the understanding of a system's structure-function relationship. Designing reproducible experiments that yield in situ time-resolved structural information at fast time scales is therefore of great interest, e.g., for better understanding the early stages of self-assembly or other phase transitions. However, it can be challenging to accurately control experimental conditions, especially when samples are only available in small amounts, prone to agglomeration, or if X-ray compatibility is required. We address these challenges by presenting a microfluidic chip for triggering dynamics via rapid diffusive mixing for in situ time-resolved X-ray investigations. This polyimide/Kapton-only-based device can be used to study the structural dynamics and phase transitions of a wide range of colloidal and soft matter samples down to millisecond time scales. The novel multiangle laser ablation three-dimensional (3D) microstructuring approach combines, for the first time, the highly desirable characteristics of Kapton (high X-ray stability with low background, organic solvent compatibility) with a 3D flow-focusing geometry that minimizes mixing dispersion and wall agglomeration. As a model system, to demonstrate the performance of these 3D Kapton microfluidic devices, we selected the non-solvent-induced self-assembly of biocompatible and amphiphilic diblock copolymers. We then followed their structural evolution in situ at millisecond time scales using on-the-chip time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering under continuous-flow conditions. Combined with complementary results from 3D finite-element method computational fluid dynamics simulations, we find that the nonsolvent mixing is mostly complete within a few tens of milliseconds, which triggers initial spherical micelle formation, while structural transitions into micelle lattices and their deswelling only occur on the hundreds of milliseconds to second time scale. These results could have an important implication for the design and formulation of amphiphilic polymer nanoparticles for industrial applications and their use as drug-delivery systems in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yunyun Gao
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany
| | | | | | - Lewis Sharpnack
- Beamline ID02 , European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) , 71 Avenue des Martyrs , 38043 Grenoble , France
| | - Andreas Meyer
- Institute for Physical Chemistry , University of Hamburg , Martin-Luther-King Platz 6 , 20146 Hamburg , Germany
| | - Robert H Blick
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering , University of Wisconsin- Madison , 1500 University Ave. , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States
| | - Martin Trebbin
- Department of Chemistry, BioXFEL, RENEW and Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) , State University of New York at Buffalo , 760 Natural Sciences Complex , Buffalo , New York 14260-3000 , United States
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18
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Merkens S, Vakili M, Sánchez-Iglesias A, Litti L, Gao Y, Gwozdz PV, Sharpnack L, Blick RH, Liz-Marzán LM, Grzelczak M, Trebbin M. Time-Resolved Analysis of the Structural Dynamics of Assembling Gold Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2019; 13:6596-6604. [PMID: 31095366 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b00575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The hydrophobic collapse is a structural transition of grafted polymer chains in a poor solvent. Although such a transition seems an intrinsic event during clustering of polymer-stabilized nanoparticles in the liquid phase, it has not been resolved in real time. In this work, we implemented a microfluidic 3D-flow-focusing mixing reactor equipped with real-time analytics, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy to study the early stage of cluster formation for polystyrene-stabilized gold nanoparticles. The polymer shell dynamics obtained by in situ SAXS analysis and numerical simulation of the solvent composition allowed us to map the interaction energy between the particles at early state of solvent mixing, 30 ms behind the crossing point. We found that the rate of hydrophobic collapse depends on water concentration, ranging between 100 and 500 nm/s. Importantly, we confirmed that the polymer shell collapses prior to the commencement of clustering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Merkens
- CIC nanoGUNE , Tolosa Hiribidea 76 , 20018 Donostia - San Sebastián , Spain
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI) , University of Hamburg , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany
| | - Mohammad Vakili
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI) , University of Hamburg , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany
| | - Ana Sánchez-Iglesias
- CIC biomaGUNE and CIBER-BBN , Paseo Miramón 182 , 20014 , Donostia - San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Lucio Litti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche , Univerisità degli Studi di Padova , Via Marzolo 1 , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Yunyun Gao
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany
| | - Paul V Gwozdz
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN) , University of Hamburg , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany
| | - Lewis Sharpnack
- Beamline ID02 , The European Synchrotron (ESRF) , 71 Avenue des Martyrs , 38043 Grenoble , France
| | - Robert H Blick
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN) , University of Hamburg , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE and CIBER-BBN , Paseo Miramón 182 , 20014 , Donostia - San Sebastián , Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science , 48013 Bilbao , Spain
| | - Marek Grzelczak
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science , 48013 Bilbao , Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) , Manuel Lardizabal Ibilbidea 4 , 20018 Donostia - San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Martin Trebbin
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI) , University of Hamburg , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany
- Department of Chemistry , The State University of New York at Buffalo , 760 Natural Sciences Complex , Buffalo , New York 14260-3000 , United States
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Yaghmur A, Ghazal A, Ghazal R, Dimaki M, Svendsen WE. A hydrodynamic flow focusing microfluidic device for the continuous production of hexosomes based on docosahexaenoic acid monoglyceride. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:13005-13013. [PMID: 31165825 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp02393c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cubosomes and hexosomes are emerging platforms for drug and nutraceutical delivery applications. In addition to common high- and low-energy batch emulsification methods for the preparation of these nano-self-assemblies, it is important to introduce suitable microfluidic devices with a precision control of the flow parameters for their continuous production. Microfluidics has several advantages including cost effectiveness, short-production time, and control of the nanoparticle size and size distribution. In the present study, a hydrodynamic flow focusing polyimide microfluidic device was employed for the continuous production of hexosomes based on docosahexaenoic acid monoglyceride (MAG-DHA), in the presence of the stabilizer Pluronic F127. The size, structural, morphological and size characterizations of the continuously produced MAG-DHA nanodispersions were investigated through an integrated approach involving synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. We report on a simple process for the microfluidic synthesis of hexosomes with sizes ranging from 108 to 138 nm and relatively narrow size distributions as the polydispersity indices were in the range of 0.14-0.22. At the applied total volumetric flow rates (TFRs) ranging of 50-150 μL min-1 and flow rate ratios (FRRs) of 10-30, it was evident from SAXS findings that ethanol has only a slight effect on the lattice parameter of the internal inverse hexagonal (H2) phase of the produced hexosomes. In addition to hexosomes, cryo-TEM observations indicated the coexistence of vesicular structures and smaller nano-objects. The formation of these nano-objects that are most likely normal micelles was also confirmed by SAXS, particularly on increasing FRR from 10 to 20 or 30 at TFR of 150 μL min-1. Taking into account the reported positive health effects of MAG-DHA, which is a long-chain omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) monoglyceride, in various disorders including cancer, the produced hexosomes are attractive for the delivery of ω-3 PUFAs, drugs, nutraceuticals, and their combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anan Yaghmur
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
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Zhao J, Gulan U, Horie T, Ohmura N, Han J, Yang C, Kong J, Wang S, Xu BB. Advances in Biological Liquid Crystals. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1900019. [PMID: 30892830 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201900019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Biological liquid crystals, a rich set of soft materials with rod-like structures widely existing in nature, possess typical lyotropic liquid crystalline phase properties both in vitro (e.g., cellulose, peptides, and protein assemblies) and in vivo (e.g., cellular lipid membrane, packed DNA in bacteria, and aligned fibroblasts). Given the ability to undergo phase transition in response to various stimuli, numerous practices are exercised to spatially arrange biological liquid crystals. Here, a fundamental understanding of interactions between rod-shaped biological building blocks and their orientational ordering across multiple length scales is addressed. Discussions are made with regard to the dependence of physical properties of nonmotile objects on the first-order phase transition and the coexistence of multi-phases in passive liquid crystalline systems. This work also focuses on how the applied physical stimuli drives the reorganization of constituent passive particles for a new steady-state alignment. A number of recent progresses in the dynamics behaviors of active liquid crystals are presented, and particular attention is given to those self-propelled animate elements, like the formation of motile topological defects, active turbulence, correlation of orientational ordering, and cellular functions. Finally, future implications and potential applications of the biological liquid crystalline materials are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Zhao
- Quanzhou Institute of Equipment Manufacturing, Haixi Institutes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Quanzhou, 362200, China
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Utku Gulan
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Takafumi Horie
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Naoto Ohmura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Jun Han
- Quanzhou Institute of Equipment Manufacturing, Haixi Institutes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Quanzhou, 362200, China
| | - Chao Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jie Kong
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Steven Wang
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Ben Bin Xu
- Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
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21
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Lopez CG, Watanabe T, Adamo M, Martel A, Porcar L, Cabral JT. Microfluidic devices for small-angle neutron scattering. J Appl Crystallogr 2018; 51:570-583. [PMID: 29896054 PMCID: PMC5988002 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576718007264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A comparative examination is presented of materials and approaches for the fabrication of microfluidic devices for small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Representative inorganic glasses, metals, and polymer materials and devices are evaluated under typical SANS configurations. Performance criteria include neutron absorption, scattering background and activation, as well as spatial resolution, chemical compatibility and pressure resistance, and also cost, durability and manufacturability. Closed-face polymer photolithography between boron-free glass (or quartz) plates emerges as an attractive approach for rapidly prototyped microfluidic SANS devices, with transmissions up to ∼98% and background similar to a standard liquid cell (I ≃ 10-3 cm-1). For applications requiring higher durability and/or chemical, thermal and pressure resistance, sintered or etched boron-free glass and silicon devices offer superior performance, at the expense of various fabrication requirements, and are increasingly available commercially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos G. Lopez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Takaichi Watanabe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Marco Adamo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institut Laue–Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Anne Martel
- Institut Laue–Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Lionel Porcar
- Institut Laue–Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - João T. Cabral
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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